Dallas Cowboys Coaches

A look at the key figures on the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff.

Head Coach: Mike McCarthy

Mike McCarthy first stepped into the NFL as an offensive quality control assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993.

Legendary quarterback Joe Montana was the signal caller for the Chiefs in 1993/94 and McCarthy had the privilege of working alongside him. In 1995, the future Cowboys HC earned a promotion to quarterback coach with the Chiefs and during his three years occupying this role, his field generals only threw 52 interceptions – the lowest over this period in the NFL.

Then, in 1999, McCarthy became quarterback coach for the Green Bay Packers, the team he would lead as the head coach 7 years later. In the short period he was with the Packers, another Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre worked alongside McCarthy.

The turn of the century saw McCarthy serve as the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator. In his first season, the Saints qualified for the playoffs and won their first game in postseason history. Despite not securing any silverware, in all of McCarthy’s four seasons with the Saints they always ranked as a top 10 offence.

McCarthy then transferred to the Californian powerhouse the San Francisco 49ers, but only managed one season. During the off-season the Packers offered McCarthy their head coach role and this was the starting point of a long and successful relationship.

Brilliantly, the Pittsburgh native tied the best starting record through the first 25 games of a head coach, surpassing Packers legend Vince Lombardi for the best coaching start in franchise history. In 2008, successful seasons earned the Packers head coach a five-year contract extension.

A Super Bowl win was on the cards for McCarthy and the Packers as they edged the Steelers to the crown in 2010. Eight seasons later, McCarthy was sacked by the Packers after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Despite interest, the former Packers coach decided to take a year out of football and invest time into developing his skillset.

Since 2020, McCarthy has coached the Dallas Cowboys but has endured much criticism. Jerry Jones confirmed that McCarthy will be back for the 2024 season as they are close to achieving their goal.  

Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer

Brian Schottenheimer has been the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator since 2023 and started his coaching career in 1997. Initially he was a low-lying coach at the Kansas City Chiefs, the then St Louis Rams and then a quarterback coach at the then Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. In 2006, the Colorado-born Schottenheimer landed a big break which set his career in motion as the New York Jets Offensive coordinator.

After attracting a lot of attention while in New York, speculations of a promotion to head coach of the Jets or a switch to Buffalo were rumored – neither materialised. Returning in 2012 to the St Louis Rams, this time as their offensive coordinator and would spend three seasons there before switching to college football.

Schottenheimer joined the Georgia bulldogs as a multifunctional coach which saw him become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. After head coach Mark Richt was sacked, Schottenheimer announced he would not return for the following season in 2015. A short spell as Indianapolis quarterback coach followed as he returned to the NFL scene.

Switching to the Seattle Seahawks the following season in 2018, as offensive coordinator, Schottenheimer reputation grew as he guided the Seahawks to the league’s top rushing offence. Bizarrely, Schottenheimer was sacked from the Seahawks in 2021 due to “philosophical differences”, despite the Seahawks setting a franchise record for points scored that season (459).

Jacksonville Jaguars proceeded to hire the future Cowboys coach as their passing game coordinator. On March the 24^th, 2022, Schottenheimer was hired as a Cowboys consultant and then was promoted to offensive coordinator 11 months later.

Defensive Coordinator: Mike Zimmer

Mike Zimmer’s appointment was confirmed in February 2024 by the Dallas Cowboys, after numerous media reports that he will become the new Defensive coordinator.

 Poetically, the new Cowboys DC began his coaching career with them from 1994 to 2006 holding numerous roles: defensive assistant, defensive backs coach and his current job – defensive coordinator.

Alas, with several coaching changes over the years when serving the Cowboys, it is testament to Zimmer that he was able to maintain his job. In early 2007, Zimmer joined the Atlanta Falcons as their defensive coordinator. Head coach Bobby Petrino departed to college football after Zimmer’s first season and the latter spoke out against the decision. When the Cincinnati Bengals sought the services of Zimmer, he had no hesitation in switching to the state of Ohio.

Whilst at the Bengals from 2008 to 2013, the Illinois native was crucial to building a robust defence. In 2009, 2011 and 2021 the Bengals defence ranked 4^th, 7^th (in total yards) and 6^th respectively in the NFL.

Impressed by his achievements in Cincinnati, the Minnesota Vikings offered Zimmer his first head coach role. A 7-10 record in his first season was the best first season for a Vikings head coach since Dennis Green in 1992.

Zimmer knocked the Packers off the top of the NFC North and claimed their first division title since 2009. The Vikings finished 2017 with their joint best 16 game regular season record of 13-3 but failed at the Championship round hurdle.

After being rewarded with a three-year extension in 2020, a season plagued by key injuries saw Zimmer obtain his first losing record as Vikings head coach since 2014. Consecutive losing seasons meant the 67-year-old was fired in 2021. Zimmer now suits up for his second spell with the Dallas Cowboys as DC.

Special Teams Coordinator: John Fassel

Fassel has been the mastermind behind the Dallas Cowboys special teams turnaround since joining in 2020. The Cowboys struggled greatly and ranked near the bottom of the NFL in terms of special teams statistics.

Finishing the 2019 season last in kick return average and 31^st of 32 in net and gross punting average. After the conclusion of his second season, Fassel had dramatically turned the ship around in Dallas.

Now ranking fifth in kick off return averages, topped in the NFL in net punting average and earned fourth spot in gross punting average. In 2021, Fassel’s special teams blocked a league high three punts with two returned for touchdowns.

Fassel has also worked with the now LA Rams from 2012 to 2019. He has overseen the excellent development of future Pro Bowlers Greg Zuerlein (kicker), Johnny Hecker (holder and punter) and long snapper Jeremy McQuaide.

Together they have combined for a monumental seven Pro Bowl appearances – remaining as a trio for seven seasons. Throughout his tenure with the Rams, special teams players earned the personal accolade of NFC Special Teams Players of the Week on 15 occasions.

When Sean McVay was installed as the Rams head coach, he invited Hassel to remain with the team and the former obliged. He remained with the Rams until 2019. Fassel also coached the then Oakland Raiders across four seasons and the Baltimore Ravens.